Compare towns
Peru vs Middlesex vs Blandford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Blandford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Peru | Middlesex | Blandford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 630Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,156 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
52.9±4.3Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Blandford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Blandford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,750±$18kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$91,902±$13k 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Blandford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,400±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$287,900±$18k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,047±$459Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Blandford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805 22% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,641Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blandford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.